New sail cargo

[Rumars]

Finally somebody has done it right, I fully expect this operation to be a commercial success. Not a wooden boat, but that was to be expected. They launched their first voyage a few days ago.
https://graindesail.com/content/14-voilier-vootan-72

[wizbang 13]

[wizbang 13]

dat some heap o riggins!!

[AndanteEd]

There's a wooden cargo sailing ship being built at the moment that I came across the other day.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2...s-made-of-wood

Ceiba.jpg

https://www.sailcargo.org/

Apparently it can carry 9 shipping containers, which admittedly is somewhat less than than the 20,000 TEU container ships that currently ply our oceans, but it's a step in a worthwhile direction. I wish them well.

Perhaps a less green shipping solution, but interesting in its own way, we still have wooden cargo dhows that are built here in Dubai which are used for trading in the Gulf. This 300 foot monster was launched quite recently:

na09-dhow-graphic.jpg

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com...worlds-largest

[Rumars]

The difference between Grain de sail and Ceiba beeing that one is hauling cargo right now over the North Atlantic and by the time the other is launched it would have paid itself off and earning the owners a nice profit.

[J.Madison]

I don't read French, but gather that it is aluminum? Seems an odd choice for a cargo vessel. As do all those running backstays.

I don't understand the contempt for Ceiba, on this forum of all places. I wish them all great success, regardless of their various design choices.

[Rumars]

Yes it's aluminium, and it's not an odd choice, it significantly cuts maintenance and increases the boats value. The keel, masts and boom are also aluminium, stainless standing rigging, the bulb is cast iron. The masts are deck stepped, sail area is 356sqm (3831sqft) upwind and 495sqm (5328sqft) downwind (asymmetrical spinnaker). All lines are led to the cockpit, 2 size 70 electric winches and 4 size 65 manual ones do the work. The whole boat is buildt to french commercial norm and Bureau Veritas certified.
Now the interesting part, light displacement is 31t, max cargo capacity is 50t, refrigerated room for 28 europallets, 2 guest cabins, 4 professional crew. LOD:22m, B:6m, max. draft 4.5m, air draft 27m.
Running backstays are cheaper then bigger diameter masts, and I doubt the crew minds, they probably sailed square riggers to get sail certified. The boat is set up like a singlehander, the crew size is probably the minimum accepted by law.

The problem with Ceiba is not the boat, it's the business. Their numbers simply don't add up, and it shows by not beeing able to secure capital. They will finish the boat someday, but if they stick to the current published business plan they can not make even. I really wish it would not be so, and everything turns to be a big success, but for now at least, I don't see it.

This guys have convinced a bank to give them one million euros by presenting a viable business plan. I fully expect a round trip to make 200-250K euros and they plan 4 trips/year. Even if they make only 2/year they can still pay interest and keep going. Of course this is my speculation, but they can not be dumber then me, and they would not have gotten the money if the bank did not believe the business is viable.

[earling2]

Grain de Sail looks like a hella fast boat. With a super vulnerable rudder and a keel that's guaranteed to catch stray lines and kelp. Ceiba looks like the anachronism she is. I guess the whole bilge will need a watertight ceiling to keep the cargo dry?

[dutchpp]

There are successful sail cargo companies, meet Tres Hombres, active since 2008. Well known in the Netherlands for importing Rum from the Caribbean
https://fairtransport.eu/transport-cargo/

[Rumars]

She's not so speedy as you would think, 8.3kn max, 6.1kn average until now, but they just passed the Azores. https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais...PL8ahIRLvWHJUg
14 000 bottles of vine and champagne do weigh something after all.

[Rumars]

They managed to coax the thing to 13kn.

[Mark0]

I thought part of the business model for these sail cargo outfits was that they get trainee crew that pay them to help transport the goods. They are selling emotions of "helping things becoming sustainable" while on your vacation. I feel this is a much easier sell on a traditionally rigged vessel. You don't see people volunteering or paying to be crew of a massive cargo ship. Don't take this post the wrong way - I think this is all good, but just wanted to point out there is more than just the pure cargo aspect.

Cheers,
Mark

[Rumars]

The outfits that use paying trainees are not economically viable without them, the cargo does not pay the bills. This operation was designed to do exactly that, be profitable on cargo alone.
They do have two extra cabins, so they can take up to four passengers.

[Lugalong]

[QUOTE=AndanteEd;6326485]There's a wooden cargo sailing ship being built at the moment that I came across the other day.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2...s-made-of-wood

Ceiba.jpg

https://www.sailcargo.org/

Apparently it can carry 9 shipping containers, which admittedly is somewhat less than than the 20,000 TEU container ships that currently ply our oceans, but it's a step in a worthwhile direction. I wish them well.

Perhaps a less green shipping solution, but interesting in its own way, we still have wooden cargo dhows that are built here in Dubai which are used for trading in the Gulf. This 300 foot monster was launched quite recently:

na09-dhow-graphic.jpg

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com...worlds-largest[/QUOTE

This dhow is brilliant for sustainability - plenty more of these needed and paid for by oil money to bring goods along the coastal route. Perhaps they could even steam over to Africa with drums of oil, and think of it; maybe bring back slaves just like old times

[Rumars]

They made New York. Apparently life on board has not changed much since the golden age of sail, you still have to go out on the yard in a blow.